I don't see how we can jump from "this one politician doesn't agree with one theory in science" to "all republicans hate science." That seems unfair.

The Republican party thought enough of his (and Akin's) views on science that they put him on the science committee. That's the connection.

"We grow up thinking that﻿ beliefs are something to be proud of, but they're really nothing but opinions one refuses to reconsider. Beliefs are﻿ easy. The stronger your beliefs are, the less open you are to growth and wisdom, because "strength of belief" is only the intensity with which you resist questioning yourself. As soon as you are proud of﻿ a belief, as soon as you think it adds something to who you are, then you've made it a part of your ego."